Eyelet for boots and shoes.



J P. CHALK. EYELET FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. ALPPLIOATION FILED 116.21, 1905. RENEWED D'BO. 16,1908.

926,317. Patented Ju ne29,1909.

JOHN FULFORD CHALK, OF HAOKAY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.

EYELE'I FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed August 21, 1905, Serial No. 275,180. Renewed December 15, 1908. Serial No. 467,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN FULronD CHALK, of Mackay, in the State of Queensland, in the Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyelets for Boots and Shoes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an eye, for the lacing of boots and shoes, comprising an eye part, and two retaining parts, integral with the eye part, and extending obliquely in dif ferent directions from the same side thereof, the eye and retaining parts being provided with means for attaching the eye to the shoe upper.

The blank for the eye is formed of a flat piece of metal and may be described as consisting of an eye part, and two retaining parts attached to the eye part with the extremities of the retaining parts and the eye part provided with prongs to be inserted through the shoe upper and doubled over or clenched, to engage therewith at three different places, so as to equally divide the strain on the shoe upper in oblique directions on the same side of the eye part and prevent the sagging of the upper when the lace is drawn tight.

\Vhen the retaining parts of the eye are to be inserted between two layers of leather or between the leather and the lining, their extremities may each be provided with three prongs, two of which are turned in one direction and the other turned in the opposite direction, all three being clenched in the usual manner against the thicknesses of leather. Instead of fastening the eyes by means of these prongs the retaining parts may be provided with holes whereby they may be riveted or sewed to the leather as desired.

In order that the invention may be properly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1, represents a plan of the upper of a boot showing the eyes and lacing. Fig. 2, is a plan view of a blank for an eye before bending. Fig. 3, is a plan of an eye formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5, is a plan view of a modification of the blank shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6, is a plan of the eye formed from the blank shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a side elevation of the eye shown in Fig. (3, showing before clenching.

to be secured by means of rivets or stitches. Fig. 9, is a plan of a modification of the blank of the eye shown .in the preceding views, and Fig. 10, .is an elevation of the eye formed from the blank shown in Fig. t).

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the blank for the eye is substantially of a zig-zag or Z- shape with the middle of the eye part (1. slightly narrower than the remainder of the blank. At the ends of the eye part (I. and on opposite sides thereof are the retaining parts Z)-Z) having prongs ZZ at their extremities, and at the junction of the retaining part b with the eye part a are prongs (r.

Vhen the blank is folded, as shown in Figs. 3 and (3, the retaining parts ?)-Z) extend obliquely in opposite directions from the same side of the eye part.

When the eye is secured to the shoe upper the prongs c, (l and (Z are, inserted through the leather and, clenched against the inner side thereof. The prongs 0 when clenched securely hold the eye part against the leather and the prongs (Z, d at the ends of the retaining parts Z) and b when clenched provide two additional fastenings. In the blank shown in Fig. 9, the retaining parts ob, provided with prongs (Z(Z, are located at the same side of the eye part (I, and the eye part a, at the opposite side to the retaining parts 0-?) is provided with prongs 0 similar to those above described.

When the blank shown in Fig. 2), is :ltohled, as in Fig. 10, to form the eye, the part of the eye part a, adjacent to the prongs c is on top of the part adjacent to the retaining parts 6 Z), so that the prongs 0 can securely fasten the eye part to the leather when clenched against the inner surface thereof.

In Figs. 2 and 9, each retaining part is shown to have two prongs, while in Fig. 5, each retaining part is shown to have three prongs. In the former case the retaining parts b?)' are designed to be placed on the outer surface of the shoe upper with all the prongs inserted through the leather and clenched against the inner side thereof while, in the latter case the retaining parts 04/ are designed to be placed between the surface material of the shoe upper and the linthe position of the prongs Fig. 8, 1s a plan of an eye ing with two of the prongs of each retaining part inserted through the lining material and the other prong inserted through the surface material and clenched against the same.

In Fig. 8, the retaining parts bb are shown to be provided with thread apertures e as an equivalent for the prongs (Z cl, and with the thread aperture 6 as an equivalent for the prongs c.

In the use of the invention the eyes are placed as shown in Fig. l, with the eye parts alined, and the lace is alternately passed through the eye parts on each side. lVhen tightened the lace places an uniform strain on all parts of the upper and keeps it flat.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An eye for boots and shoes comprising, an eye part, attaching means for the eye part, two retaining parts integral with the eye part and extending obliquely in different directions from the same side thereof and attaching means for the retaining parts.

2. An eye for boots and shoes comprising, an eye part consisting of attaching prongs for the eye part, two retaining parts integral with the eye part and extending obliquely in difierent directions from the same side thereof and attaching prongs for the retaining parts.

8. An eye for a boot or shoe consisting of a metal blank comprising, a narrow middle part, two retaining parts oblique to the middle part, and extending in dilterent directions on opposite sides thereof and attaching prongs at the middle part and at the extremities of the retaining parts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 1 in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FULFORD CHALK.

lVitnesses ARTHUR Bnooxns, FREDERICK Panxm MonLnY. 

